it happen, though, since most work outside of the house. Personally, I lived in school until I was sixteen. All of my brothers stayed past the age of nine, too.”
“There are no private daycares or babysitters, then?”
“No. The universal system is the only way the government can ensure a consistent quality of education and equal healthcare for all children. Maintaining the adequate re-population of our country is a matter of global importance, which makes every child extremely precious, you know.”
“I see.”
“Voran is a great place to be a woman, too. Lots of opportunities and a ton of admirers.” She giggled, then grabbed my arm, shoving me forward. “And here we are.”
I found myself in front of a colorful group of four women, who lingered next to a mobile buffet stand. Three of the four appeared to be at various stages of pregnancy.
All four turned to us, eyeing me with interest.
“The new Madam Colonel Kyradus, ladies,” Lievoa introduced me in a sing-song voice.
“Just Daisy, please,” I added with a smile, curious to meet some Voranian women at last.
Lievoa quickly said all their names and their husbands’ titles to me, which I knew I might not remember from the first try. No one kissed me on the mouth, this time. That form of greeting must be reserved only for family members then, I realized with relief.
“And Madam Governor Drustan, herself.” Lievoa gestured dramatically at the tall woman who seemed to be dominating the group.
Her green-and-purple dress streamed over her heavily pregnant belly, the fabric had an iridescent sheen to it, like peacock feathers. Clusters of colorful baubles dripped from her neck, ears, and horns, making me finally feel like I was not that overdressed with all the jewelry that the Colonel had decorated me with.
“Women can call me Shula,” she said in a deep, velvety voice, dismissing Lievoa’s formalities with a graceful gesture of a heavily bejeweled hand. Like her husband’s, Shula’s eyes were also yellow. Only unlike the Governor’s lemon-light color, hers were dark gold.
“I trust your journey to Neron was good?” one of the women who flanked Shula asked. I believed Lievoa had introduced her as Iriha.
“Pretty uneventful.” I shrugged, with a smile. “I spent most of it in cryo sleep.”
“What was that like?” the other woman chimed in, her purple eyes open wide in wonder.
“I can’t tell. I felt nothing at all. Waking up was a bit fuzzy at first, though.”
“Do you like being married to the Colonel Kyradus?” Iriha asked. “He is a highly esteemed war hero, but I don’t know much about him. He’s rather unsociable.”
“I find him a bit rough around the edges,” the third woman added.
“You got that right,” I muttered under my breath.
Shula winced, rubbing her belly.
“Kicking, again?” Iriha asked, sympathetically.
“A lot lately.” Shula nodded.
“When is the baby due?” I asked cheerfully, joy for her shined in me. Waiting for a new baby’s arrival must be even more exciting than waiting for Christmas morning.
“Any time next week.” Shula leaned back a little then side to side, stretching her spine. “And it’s three babies, not just one.”
“Three?” I fisted my hands at my side, holding back from reaching out to pet her belly. I knew not all women liked that, no matter how much I wished to feel one of her babies kick. “You and the Governor must be so excited.”
“These aren’t his.” She shook her head, making the strings of baubles on her ears and horns sway.
“No?”
“These are the triplets of the Senator Phirnic,” she explained. “Three boys. Ours may be next, but we haven’t decided yet.”
Right, I should’ve known there would be a possibility of her carrying children of someone else. That was a part of the Voranian culture—married women helped single men start families through artificial insemination.
“How many children have you given birth to? If you don’t mind my asking, of course,” I added quickly.
“This is my third pregnancy,” Shula replied with obvious pride.
“It’s fascinating, and so kind of you to help the senator and the others with creating their families.”
She slid me a measuring stare, her golden-yellow eyes assessing and calculating.
“Isn’t that every woman’s main duty and privilege? To bear children and populate their world?”
Well, personally I wouldn’t say “every woman.” On Earth, plenty of people of either gender found their life purpose beyond reproduction. The word “duty” sounded a bit off to me, too. However, I didn’t come here to push my ways but to learn theirs. Besides, despite asking the questions, Shula’s tone did not invite a debate.
So, I